Dubai hosted a record 437 events from a range of sectors and professions in 2024. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/eranda
Dubai has revealed that over the last year it has secured the opportunity to host a record 437 events from a range of sectors and professions.
Driven by Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau and part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, this number marks a 20% year-on-year increase in the number of successful bids.
Events secured in 2024 are set to attract an estimated 210,731 delegates to the emirate over the coming years, making a direct impact on the city’s events, travel and tourism ecosystems. These include the 2025 WFNS World Congress of Neurosurgery, with 4,000 delegates; the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit & Mayor Summit, with 1,200 delegates; the 2025 Pan Arab Radiology Conference, with 1,500 delegates and the 2026 Global Symposium on Health System Research, with 3,000 delegates.
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Incentives coming to the emirate include the 2025 Oppo Guangdong Incentive, with 4,000 delegates; the 2025 Loyal Connect Global, with 3,000 delegates; the 2025 GLA Global Logistics Conference, with 1,500 delegates and the 2026 Forever Living Global Rally, with 12,000 delegates.
Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: “Guided by the vision of our city’s leadership, business events continue to play a vital role in bolstering tourism to Dubai and supporting its wider economic priorities. The healthy increase in successful bids in 2024 is further proof of Dubai’s rising prominence as a destination that delivers not only world-class business events infrastructure and capabilities, but also provides unrivalled, memorable experiences for all organisers and delegates.”
In 2024, ICCA ranked Dubai as the top city in the Middle East for the number of association meetings hosted.